Jump to content

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Page semi-protected
Listen to this article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from HRH The Countess of Wessex)

Sophie
Duchess of Edinburgh (more)
Sophie is smiling and wears a blue dress.
Sophie in 2023
BornSophie Helen Rhys-Jones
(1965-01-20) 20 January 1965 (age 59)
Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, United Kingdom
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1999)​
Issue
HouseWindsor (by marriage)
FatherChristopher Rhys-Jones
MotherMary O'Sullivan
EducationWest Kent College
Signature
Royal family of
the United Kingdom and the
other Commonwealth realms
Badge of the House of Windsor

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, 20 January 1965) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, the youngest sibling of King Charles III.

Sophie grew up at Brenchley, Kent, and later attended West Kent College, training as a secretary. She then worked in public relations, representing firms across the UK, Switzerland and Australia before opening her own agency in 1996. She met Edward in 1987 while working for Capital Radio; they began dating in 1993. Their engagement was announced in January 1999, and they married on 19 June at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The couple have two children: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex, who are respectively sixteenth and fifteenth in line to the British throne as of 2024.

In 2002, Sophie closed her business interests and began full-time work as a member of the royal family. She is the patron of over 70 charities and organisations, including Childline and the London College of Fashion. She undertakes over 200 engagements each year, including visits to schools, universities and military bases.[1][2] Her charity work primarily revolves around people with disabilities, women's rights, avoidable blindness and agriculture.

Early life and career

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, on 20 January 1965 into a middle-class family.[3][4][5] Her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (born 1931), is a retired sales director for an importer of industrial tyres and rubber goods.[4] Her mother was Mary (née O'Sullivan; 1934–2005), a charity worker and secretary.[6][7] She has an elder brother, David (born 1963), and was named after her father's sister, Helen, who died in a riding accident in 1960. Her godfather, actor Thane Bettany, was her father's stepbrother; both men spent their early life in Sarawak, North Borneo, then a British Protectorate ruled by the White Rajahs.[8]

She descends from King Henry IV of England[9] and is related to the family of the Viscounts Molesworth through her grandmother, Margaret Patricia Rhys-Jones (née Molesworth; 1904–1985), who was the great-granddaughter of the Rev. John Molesworth, himself the father of Sir Guilford Molesworth and a great-grandson of Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth.[10][11]

Rhys-Jones was raised in a four-bedroom 17th-century farmhouse in Brenchley, Kent. She began her education at Dulwich Preparatory School, before moving on to Kent College, Pembury, where she was friends with Sarah Sienesi, with whom she subsequently shared a flat in Fulham and who later became her lady-in-waiting. Rhys-Jones then trained as a secretary at West Kent College, Tonbridge.[12]

She began a career in public relations, working for a variety of firms, including four years at Capital Radio,[13] where she was assigned to the press and promotions department, as well as public relations companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media.[14] She also worked as a ski representative in Switzerland and spent a year travelling and working in Australia. In 1996, Rhys-Jones launched her public relations agency, RJH Public Relations, which she ran with her business partner, Murray Harkin, for five years.[14][15]

Prior to her marriage, Rhys-Jones lived at Coleherne Court, London.[16]

Marriage and children

Further information: Wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones
Sophie and Edward at Trooping the Colour in London, June 2013

While working at Capital Radio, Rhys-Jones met Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for the first time in 1987 when he was dating her friend.[17] She met him again at a promotion shoot for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge to raise money for charity in 1993, and the two began their relationship soon afterwards.[18][19] In December 1993 and amid growing speculation about whether they were planning to marry, Edward wrote a letter to newspaper editors, in which he denied any wedding plans and asked the media to respect their privacy.[20] Edward proposed to Rhys-Jones at a vacation in the Bahamas in December 1998 and their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999.[18][21] Edward proposed to her with an engagement ring featuring a two-carat oval diamond flanked by two heart-shaped gemstones set in 18-carat white gold. The ring was made by Asprey and Garrard (now Garrard & Co) and is worth an estimated £105,000.[22] Rhys-Jones, who was reportedly close to the Queen from the beginning of her relationship with Edward, was allowed to use the royal apartments at Buckingham Palace prior to her engagement.[23]

The wedding took place on 19 June 1999 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, a break from the weddings of Edward's older siblings, which were large, formal events at Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral.[24] On the day of their marriage, Prince Edward was created a hereditary peer as Earl of Wessex with the subsidiary title of Viscount Severn (derived from the Welsh roots of his wife's family).[25]

The couple spent their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle.[24] Following their union, the Earl and Countess of Wessex moved to Bagshot Park, their home in Surrey.[26] While their private residence is Bagshot Park, their office and official London residence is based at Buckingham Palace.[27]

In December 2001, Sophie was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital after feeling unwell. It was discovered that she was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy and the foetus had to be removed.[28] Two years later, on 8 November 2003, she prematurely gave birth to her daughter, Lady Louise, resulting from a sudden placental abruption that placed both mother and child at risk, and the Countess had to undergo an emergency caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital, while the Earl of Wessex rushed back from Mauritius.[29] Sophie returned to Frimley Park Hospital on 17 December 2007, to give birth, again by caesarean section, to her son, James (then Viscount Severn, now Earl of Wessex).[30]

Public life

Sophie and Edward at the Queen's Birthday Parade in Gibraltar in 2012

Sophie's first overseas tour after her marriage was to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island in 2000.[31]

In December 2011, the Countess of Wessex joined her husband visiting troops in Afghanistan. In February and March 2012, the Earl and Countess visited the Caribbean for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, visiting Saint Lucia, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and Antigua and Barbuda. Highlights of the tour included the 50th Anniversary Independence Day celebrations in Saint Lucia, a joint address from both houses of the Barbados Parliament and a visit to sites affected by the recent volcanic eruptions in Montserrat.[32] In June 2012, as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Edward and Sophie, represented the Queen during a three-day tour to Gibraltar. The couple attended a Queen's Birthday Parade and toured Main Street, in the historic old town.[33]

In 2013, the couple visited South Africa. Later that year, the Countess made solo trips to India and Qatar as the patron of the sight-saving charity Orbis UK.[23][34][35] She made a similar visit to Bangladesh in November 2017.[36] Sophie, as Colonel-in-Chief of Corps of Army Music, visited The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra at the Royal Artillery Barracks, in London. On 3 March 2014, the Queen approved the title of "The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra" for the new Army String Orchestra in recognition of the Corps of Army Music's Colonel-in-Chief.[37] In November 2014, Sophie was in Zambia representing the Queen at the state funeral of the late president of Zambia, Michael Sata.[38]

Sophie attending the Royal Cheshire County Show in 2015

On 26 March 2015, Sophie attended the reburial of Richard III of England in Leicester Cathedral.[39] In May 2015, Sophie represented the Queen in the 70th anniversary celebrations to mark the Liberation Day of the Channel Islands. The Countess delivered a message from the Queen, who paid tribute to the island's continued allegiance and loyalty to the Crown.[40] She visited Canada and the United States in November 2015. While in Toronto, she criss-crossed across the city, making stops at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the UHN's Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital, of which she is patron. Sophie then travelled to New York City, paying an emotional visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Sophie also made an appearance at an Armistice Day service at the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden, which was opened in commemoration of the 67 British victims of the attack. The Countess later attended the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala dinner in Manhattan.[41][42]

The Earl and Countess of Wessex toured Canada in June 2016, visiting Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The couple visited a variety of places in and around Regina, Saskatchewan before attending the Globe Theatre's 50th anniversary gala.[43] In March 2017, Sophie embarked on a 4-day visit to Malawi as Vice-Patron of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, visiting programmes to end avoidable blindness and champion young leaders.[44] On 9 May 2017, the Countess attended King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway's 80th Birthday Celebrations on behalf of the royal family.[45] The Earl and Countess of Wessex represented the Queen at the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's Accession to the Throne of Brunei in October 2017.[46] On 30 November 2017, Sophie visited the 'Making for Change' fashion training and manufacturing unit, a fashion training and manufacturing unit established by the Ministry of Justice and London College of Fashion at HM Prison Downview as patron of the London College of Fashion During her visit, the Countess met staff and prisoners, including female inmates, and awarded participants with certificates as part of their training programme.[47][48]

Sophie at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast in 2018

An avid supporter of charities that deal with learning disabilities, Sophie made a solo trip to Belfast in January 2018 to visit a number of charities that she had supported through her work over the last decade, including Mencap's children's centre.[49] She also opened the new dementia-friendly unit of Northern Ireland Hospice, the first of its kind in the UK.[49] The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Sri Lanka in February 2018 to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Independence, Sri Lanka–United Kingdom relations, the Commonwealth, education and young people.[50] In October 2018, Edward and Sophie toured the Baltic states.[51][52]

In March 2019, the Countess travelled to New York City to attend the 63rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The annual event brought together more than 9,000 gender equality representatives from around the world. The CSW is "the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women."[53] From 29 April to 3 May 2019, the Countess, Vice-Patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, visited India in her final overseas tour as vice-patron ahead of the Trust's planned closure in January 2020. Sophie saw the work the charitable foundation has supported to tackle avoidable blindness and heard about programmes successfully launched by Queen's Young Leaders.[54]

In July 2019, the Earl and Countess visited Forfar on their first official visit to the town since the Queen granted the Earl the additional title Earl of Forfar in March 2019.[55] Later in October, Sophie visited Kosovo to meet victims of sexual violence after the Kosovo War and their families.[56] By the end of 2019, Sophie had completed 236 official engagements.[18] In March 2020, Sophie became the first member of the royal family to visit South Sudan. During the visit, which was requested by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sophie met victims and survivors of gender-based violence and promoted their rights by meeting the female political leaders in the country.[57]

In January 2022, the Countess went on a solo visit to Qatar in her capacity as the global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to support the organisation's '2030 in Sight' initiative and visit projects by the Qatar Fund and Orbis International aimed at improving eye tests and treatments in India and Bangladesh.[58] As a supporter of the Women Peace and Security Network she met with Afghan women refugees who had been evacuated from the country following the 2021 Taliban offensive.[58] In March 2022, Sophie went on a four-day solo trip to New York City, visiting the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden and Consuls General from across the Commonwealth to mark the Commonwealth Day.[59] She also delivered the keynote address on women's rights in Afghanistan at an event hosted by the UN Women and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.[59]

In April 2022, Edward and Sophie toured Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.[60] Their planned visit to Grenada was postponed after talks with the island's government and governor general, and the couple expressed their hopes to visit the country on a later date.[61] In October 2022, she visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo to engage with projects preventing sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, becoming the first member of the royal family to visit the country.[62] The tour also included visits to Rwanda, Botswana, and Malawi.[63][64] After her husband was created Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday, Sophie and Edward visited Edinburgh to meet with members of the Ukrainian and Eastern European communities in the city, some of whom were displaced following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[65] In May 2023, Sophie visited Iraq at the request of the Foreign Office to promote the Women, Peace and Security agenda and raise awareness about conflict-related sexual violence.[66] She became the first member of the royal family to visit Baghdad.[67] On 29 April 2024, the Duchess visited Ukraine, the first British royal to make the trip since the Russian invasion, where she met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Sophie also met with survivors of war-related sexual violence and torture as well as children who had been returned to Ukraine after being abducted from their families by Russia. She also paid her respects to victims of the massacre in Bucha.[68] In October 2024, she became the first member of the royal family to visit Chad where she met with refugees who had fled to the country following the Sudanese civil war and had experienced sexual violence during the conflict.[69]

Charity work and patronage

Sophie at the 2018 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Film Festival. Much of her charity work involves women's rights.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex established their foundation The Wessex Youth Trust in 1999 to support initiatives and charities that help children and young people.[70] After twenty years of operation, the Wessex Youth Trust was renamed the Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust in 2019 and its management was transferred to the Private Office of the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar. It was announced that the Trust's broad charitable objectives would not change, however, their future efforts would be aimed towards supporting a different range of charities.[71]

In 2000, she became patron of a number of organisations, including Foundation of Light (formerly Sunderland A.F.C Foundation) which develops educational and community programmes in northern England, based around football.[72] Moved by the death of her friend Jill Dando in 1999, the Countess became a trustee of UCL Jill Dando Institute, an institute of crime science established in her name in 2001.[73] As a full-time member of the royal family, part of her focus became charities that dealt with communications difficulties, including Southampton General Hospital, and the New Haven Trust in Toronto, a learning centre for children with autism.[73] In 2003, she became patron of Tomorrow's People Trust, which helps the disadvantaged to find work, housing and a place in society.[73] In February 2003, Sophie became patron and ambassador of Meningitis Now, a charity that supports meningitis patients and raises awareness of the disease.[74] Later that month, she became patron to The Scar Free Foundation, a medical research charity coordinating funds in wound healing, burns and cleft research.[75] In 2003, she succeeded Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as patron of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.[76]

Sophie, who was a Brownie as a child, became the new president of Girlguiding UK in 2003, following the death of Princess Margaret in February 2002,[77] and remained in that position until 2024 when she became the organisation's patron subsequent to the Queen's death in 2022.[78] She established the Women in Business Group in 2003 to support the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and reach more young people to help them develop skills that can transform their futures.[79] The Countess became president of the Brainwave Centre in 2003, a charity providing therapy for children with developmental delay.[80] In June 2003, she became patron of the Greater London Fund for the Blind, which raises funds for smaller charities for visually impaired people in London.[81] In August 2003, the Countess received patronage of the National Autistic Society, passed down from the Princess Royal.[82] In 2004, she joined St John Ambulance as grand president, and heads the work of St John's County Presidents, who provide a variety of support for their local St John members.[83] She was associated with ChildLine for many years, preceding her appointment as their first ever royal patron in 2005.[84] In 2006, she lent her support to the Born in Bradford research project, which investigated causes of low birth weight and infant mortality between 2007 and 2010.[85][86] In September 2006, she was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.[87] In the same year, she became patron of England Hockey.[88]

Sophie is a supporter of agriculture, farming and food production and held the position of show president of the Royal Bath and West Show in 2010 before becoming vice patron in 2011.[89] She is also patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations[90] and has been patron of the Border Union Agricultural Society since its bicentennial year in 2012.[91] Sophie works to support the 'Campaign for Wool', which was set up by the then-Prince of Wales, and aims to promote the use of British wool.[92] During her 2013 trips to India, and Qatar, the Countess visited numerous facilities in her capacity as patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and ambassador for IAPB, in order to raise awareness about preventable blindness. Her work on the issue has been described as influential in creating the Qatar Creating Vision initiative.[34] In 2013, Sophie became the first ever patron of the London College of Fashion and was announced as the royal patron of British Wheelchair Basketball.[93][94] In June 2013, she was appointed global ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, an umbrella body co-ordinating organisations running the Duke of Edinburgh's Award worldwide.[95] She has been the founder and chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Women's Network Forum since January 2014, whose goal is the advancement of gender balance and equality by influencing business leaders, inspiring the next generation and sharing best practice.[79] In June 2014, the Countess was appointed the patron of Ubunye Foundation, based in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, a rural development trust dedicated to unlocking the potential of rural communities.[96]

On Sophie's 50th birthday, she became vice patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, a charitable foundation established in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.[97] The trust was a time-limited foundation and closed on 31 January 2020.[98] In February 2015, the Queen gave a joint reception to celebrate the 50th birthdays of the Earl and Countess, as well as their patronages and affiliations, at Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth, accompanied by the couple, met key supporters, staff, volunteers and alumni from the charities of their patronage and presidency, as well as representatives from their various military appointments.[99] In November 2015, 100 Women in Hedge Funds announced that the Countess will serve as Global Ambassador of 100WF's Next Generation initiatives.[100] In September 2016, Sophie took part in a cycling challenge from the Holyrood Palace to Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Diamond Challenge. The ride raised more than £180,000 for the Award, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary.[101][102] Linking Environment And Farming named Sophie as its new honorary president in October 2016.[103] In November 2016, she was announced as Women of the Future's official ambassador, which supports and celebrates the successes of young women.[104] In December 2016, the Countess participated in ICAP charity day in order to raise money for Shooting Star Chase,[105] a children's hospice of which she is patron.[106] During the same month, after the Queen stepped down from her position as patron of numerous charities, Sophie replaced her as the principal patron of NSPCC, Blind Veterans UK and British Cycling Federation.[107][108][109]

The Countess of Wessex was elected president of the Devon County Agricultural Association in February 2017.[110] In May 2017, as patron of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association Sophie attended its 90th anniversary and commemorative athlete awards dinner.[111] The Ice Maiden, five British Army women, received royal patronage from the Countess for their ambitious coast-to-coast ski expedition across Antarctica in October 2017. The team aimed to inspire women and girls everywhere to challenge perceptions and grow their ambitions.[112][113] In January 2018, Sophie became the Royal Patron of the Nursing Memorial Appeal. The Appeal aims to create a memorial dedicated to the 1,500 nurses who gave their lives in First and Second World Wars.[114] In February 2018, Westmorland Agricultural Society welcomed the Countess as its president.[115] In January 2019, Sophie became the patron of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, which saved her life during her ectopic pregnancy in 2001.[116] On 29 January, she was elected president of the Royal Smithfield Club, which promotes the education and knowledge to advance best practice in the meat and livestock industry.[117] On International Women's Day March 2019, Sophie officially announced her involvement in taking a stand against sex crimes in conflict zones, joining Angelina Jolie to work with the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) as well as Women, Peace and Security (WPS) formed 20 years ago to tackle the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and to promote the positive role women play in building peace and stability.[118] On 25 April 2019, it was announced that the Countess, along with her husband and her brother-in-law, the Duke of York, have each been appointed vice president of the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show.[119] In May 2019, she took over the patronage of the Chartered Management Institute from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[120]

Sophie receiving the 2022 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award at Georgetown University in Washington, DC

In April 2020, the Countess helped Rhubarb, a catering company, in preparing and delivering food to NHS staff amidst the coronavirus pandemic, an initiative organised by Ian Wace.[121] Sophie has also volunteered at local food banks, including the Hope Hub and the Lighthouse, in Surrey and delivered parcels to the homeless during the pandemic.[122] In September 2020, Sophie, alongside her husband and children, participated in the Great British Beach Clean at Southsea Beach in support of the Marine Conservation Society.[123][124]

In February 2021, as grand president of St John Ambulance, the Countess started working as a care volunteer at an NHS vaccination centre.[125] In May 2021, Sophie become royal patron of Wellbeing of Women, a charity focused on all areas of women's reproductive health across a woman's life course, from menstrual health to menopause.[126] A patron of this charity, she later discussed her own struggles with menopause and how it affected her memory.[127] In July 2021, Princess Alexandra handed over the patronage of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to Sophie.[128] In December 2022, Sophie was honoured at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, where she received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for her work concerning sexual violence in war zones.[129]

Public image and style

At the start of her relationship with Prince Edward, Sophie was referred to as "the girl next door", and noted for her successful career and ordinary background.[130] In the early years of her marriage, Sophie faced public scrutiny for her business interests, and was often compared to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died two years earlier.[131][132][133] On her transition to becoming a full-time royal, she later stated: "Certainly it took me a while to find my feet. The frustration was I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do. I couldn't turn up at a charity and go, right, I think you should be doing this, because that's what I was used to doing in my working life. I had to take a really big step back and go, OK, they want you to be the icing on the cake, the person to come in to thank their volunteers and funders, not necessarily to tell them how to run their communications plan."[134]

Sophie has since been cited as an under-the-radar "stabilizing influence" and a "safe pair of hands".[134] She has been said to have a low-key approach to royal engagements, and often drives herself to and from events.[135] Amanda Pullinger stated to Town and Country, "She actually presents herself as an ordinary person and I think that is increasingly what the royal family needs to do."[136] She has also been noted for her long-term work on "gritty" subject matters such as gender-based violence in conflict, and trips to "difficult areas", such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone.[135][137] The Countess's engagements gained significant attention from the public post-Megxit, with her charity work and style choices receiving increased commentary and analysis.[138][139] Writer Ingrid Seward states that Sophie "is not a self-publicist....She looks good, without being over-the-top, and she's not craving celebrity. You often wouldn't know she had carried out all those engagements."[140]

Sophie was not initially prominent for her fashion, but eventually began to develop her own style and has worn outfits by many notable designers.[141] She has exclusively worn Jane Taylor millinery designs since 2009 on numerous occasions.[142] In a Marie Claire interview, Taylor described her first royal commission: "My first royal client was the Countess of Wessex, and it was quite nerve-racking. But she wears such lovely clothes and she always looks so fabulous, so it's quite easy to design for her. Since she came to see me, she's never worn any other milliner's hats, which is a big compliment. I was really excited, honored, and slightly nervous."[143] Alongside the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex, Sophie has been named one of the most stylish members of the royal family.[141][144] Sophie is particularly known for wearing different combinations of hats and coats, and favours silk dresses and frocks.[144] Describing her style in an interview by Sunday Express Sophie said: "It's about my charities, but I recognize that I'm on display. [...] When you walk into a room, yes, people are going to talk about what you're doing there, but they're also going to want to know what you're wearing".[145] She also revealed that she has never had a stylist of her own and that she makes her fashion choices herself.[146] In 2015, the Countess was named on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed List.[147] Together with the then-Duchess of Cambridge, Sophie hosted the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception at Buckingham Palace during the 2018 London Fashion Week.[148]

Privacy and the media

Violation of privacy

In May 1999, less than a month before her wedding, The Sun published a photo of a topless Sophie with her Capital Radio colleague Chris Tarrant, which was taken during a business trip to Spain in 1988.[149][150][151] Buckingham Palace immediately issued a statement saying, "This morning's story in The Sun is a gross invasion of privacy and cannot be regarded as in the public interest. It has caused considerable distress."[149][151] Prime Minister Tony Blair also condemned the publication of the photograph.[149][150] The Palace made an official complaint to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).[149][150] According to Sophie's business partner the incident had left her "distressed", and she was reportedly "devastated" and felt "she was 'letting the side down' before her wedding".[149][151][152] Tarrant later said, "There was never, ever the slightest hint of romance between Sophie and myself, let alone these snidey insinuations."[149] Following its publication, the newspaper issued a statement and apologised to Rhys-Jones[149] and the next issue came out with the headline "Sorry, Sophie".[150] It also said that it would again apologise to Sophie in a letter and donate all sale proceeds of the issue to her charities.[150][153] The photo was sold to the tabloid by Kara Noble, a former friend and colleague of Sophie.[149][150] Noble later apologised in the following months saying, "I just want to say sorry to everyone who was involved."[154] Both she and the newspaper faced criticism from the public,[149] and Noble was fired from her job at Heart 106.2 FM.[151] The couple later decided not to make a formal complaint.[153]

In 2011, close associates of Jonathan Rees, a private investigator connected to the News International phone hacking scandal, stated that he had penetrated Sophie and Edward's bank accounts and sold details about them to the Sunday Mirror.[155]

Media sting

In April 2001, Sophie appeared in the media after she was misled in a meeting at the Dorchester by a News of the World reporter posing as an Arab sheikh, Mazher Mahmood,[156][157] who was later exposed for perjury in Southwark Crown Court.[158] It was claimed by the newspapers that during their "secretly taped" conversation, the Countess had insulted the royal family and politicians, calling the Queen "old dear" and criticising the leadership of prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.[156][157][159] She also reportedly commented on Prince Charles's relationship with his then-partner Camilla, arguing that a marriage would not be possible as long as the Queen Mother was alive.[159] However, despite some initial reports, the paper acquitted her of referring to Cherie Blair as "absolutely horrid" and mocking Leader of the Opposition William Hague's appearance.[160] Murray Harkin, Sophie's business partner who was also present at the meeting, was recorded discussing his sex life and cocaine use and boasting about Sophie's abilities in securing celebrities for various events.[160] Tabloid newspapers claimed the Countess had sent apology letters to Blair, Hague and Prince Charles.[156]

Buckingham Palace denied the accuracy of the reports, saying: "The Countess of Wessex, who is trying to pursue her own career, is obviously vulnerable to set-ups such as this."[156] The Palace released a statement saying the reported comments were "selective, distorted and in several cases, flatly untrue".[156] The Palace officials stated that Sophie had not insulted the Queen, the Queen Mother, or the politicians, while according to the Mail on Sunday four reliable sources had confirmed these reports.[156] The News of the World attributed the negative reactions to the jealousy of the rival media, as the outlet had previously conducted an interview with Sophie in which she addressed the rumours about her difficulties in marriage and discussed her husband's sexuality.[156] Sophie had reportedly agreed to the intimate interview on the condition that the newspaper would not publish transcript of the tapes.[161][162] In a separate statement Sophie said she was "distressed by the carrying out of an entrapment operation" on her, but also regretted her "own misjudgment in succumbing to that subterfuge".[160] Subsequently, in 2002, both the Earl and Countess announced that they would quit their business interests in order to focus on activities and official engagements on behalf of the royal family and aid the Queen in her Golden Jubilee year.[163]

Jewellery gifts

The Countess of Wessex was criticised for accepting two sets of jewels from the royal family of Bahrain during an official day-long[164] visit to the country in December 2011, as she and her husband returned to the UK from a trip to Afghanistan. She was given one set by Bahrain's king and a second set by the country's prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Her husband, the Earl, received a pen and a watch as well as a silk rug from the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who also gave Sophie a silver and pearl cup. The value of the jewellery has not been estimated and its precise contents were not disclosed.[165] Given concern about human rights abuses in Bahrain, this gift attracted controversy, with calls for the jewels to be sold, and the proceeds used for the benefit of the Bahraini people.[166]

Critics said the Countess should sell the gems and give the proceeds to political protesters in Bahrain. Denis MacShane, then a Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and previously a Foreign Office minister, said: "Given the appalling suffering and repression of the Bahraini people, it would be a fitting gesture for the Countess of Wessex to auction these trinkets and distribute the proceeds to the victims of the regime."[165]

Royal family guidelines and procedures relating to gifts, published by the government in 2003, state that "before accepting any gift, careful consideration should always be given, wherever practicable, to the donor, the reason for and occasion of the gift and the nature of the gift itself ... Equally, before declining the offer of a gift, careful consideration should be given to any offence that might be caused by such action."[164]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

Sophie was styled as "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex" from her marriage in 1999 to 2023. On 10 March 2019, her husband was created Earl of Forfar, according her the title by courtesy of Countess of Forfar.[167] She was at times referred to as the Countess of Wessex and Forfar, such as at the funerals of her father-in-law and mother-in-law.[168][169] Since 10 March 2023, when her husband was advanced as Duke of Edinburgh (for life), she has been known as "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh".[170]

Honours

See also: List of honours of the British royal family by country

Foreign

Honorary military appointments

In Honorary Air Commodore combat dress on a visit to Kandahar in 2011
Canada Canada
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Honorific eponyms

  • The Duchess of Edinburgh Cup (formerly the Countess of Wessex Cup), an annual competition which sees regiments and military organisations affiliated with Sophie compete against each other in a series of challenges[187][188]
  • The rose cultivar Rosa 'Countess of Wessex' was named in her honour in 2004.[189][190]

Arms

Coat of arms of the Duchess of Edinburgh
Notes
The Duchess bears the arms of her husband impaled with her father's. Prior to marrying Prince Edward her father Christopher Rhys-Jones had arms redesigned by Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones, Garter King of Arms, based on a 200-year-old family blazon never previously recognised. The new grant of arms included a remainder to Christopher's elder brother Theo Rhys-Jones and issue. About her new family coat of arms, Sophie is quoted saying: "It's wonderful, I'm absolutely thrilled", "It's not modern and different, because it is representative of my family's heritage, so it's in keeping with that."[191]
Adopted
1999
Coronet
Coronet of a child of the Sovereign.
Escutcheon
Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules three Lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langed Azure, 2nd Or a Lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a Double Tressure flory counterflory of the Second, 3rd Azure a Harp Or stringed Argent, the whole differenced with a Label of three Points Argent with the central Point charged with a Tudor Rose (Royal Arms differenced for Prince Edward); impaled with a Shield quarterly Gules and Azure a Lion rampant regardant within an Orle Or (for Rhys-Jones); and, in chief, as an augmentation of honour, the arms of the Order of St John (for GCStJ).
Supporters
Dexter, a Lion rampant gardant Or crowned with the Coronet of the rank of a child of the Sovereign Proper; Sinister, a Wyvern Azure gorged with a Coronet Or composed of Crosses pattées and Fleurs-de-lis a Chain affixed also Or.
Motto
CAS GŴR NI CHÂR Y WLAD A'I MACO
(Welsh: Hateful the man who loves not the country that nurtured him)
Orders
Surrounding the Shield, the Royal Victorian Order circlet inscribed with its motto: VICTORIA;
augmented in chief by the arms of the Order of St John as a Dame Grand Cross (GCStJ).
Other elements
GCVO insignia suspended below the Shield (optional).
Symbolism
The Duchess's family arms allude to her family's Welsh heritage and one of her noble ancestors the warrior Elystan Glodrydd, Prince of Ferrig (represented by the lion). Red and blue are the regimental colours of the Royal Fusiliers, in which members of her family have served.[191] The wyvern is a symbol of Wessex, appropriate to the earldom of Wessex (now a subsidiary title).[192]
Previous versions
Previous versions of her marital arms were depicted superimposed upon the Badge of the Order of St John (when DJStJ) replaced in 2010 by the Royal Victorian Order circlet (as GCVO). Her arms since 2022 represent both her being a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (by its circlet) and of the Order of St John (with its augmentation of honour in chief).
Prior to her marriage, Sophie Rhys-Jones bore her father's arms on a lozenge.

Authored articles

  • HRH The Countess of Wessex (10 October 2013). "World Sight Day: Blindness is a matter of life and death". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  • HRH The Countess of Wessex (7 March 2019). "Why I'm joining the fight to end the silence around women in conflict". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  • HRH The Countess of Wessex (31 October 2020). "Women are the unsung heroes of peacebuilding". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.

References

  1. ^ "The Countess of Wessex". The Royal Family. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  2. ^ "2018 royal work statistics: who's been busy, who's been busier (congrats, Your Maj!)". Maclean's. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Background". The British Monarchy. Royal Household. Archived from the original on 21 October 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b "How Sophie, Countess of Wessex moved from being a career PR girl to a devoted Royal stalwart". Tatler. 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021. Sophie also came from a middle-class family, her mother a secretary and her father a sales director for a tyre company.
  5. ^ "Prince Harry's Aunt Recalls Trying to Help Meghan Markle: 'I Just Hope They Will Be Happy'". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021. Sophie, 55, came from a middle class family and worked for a PR firm before she wed Prince Edward.
  6. ^ "PR girl turns princess". BBC. 11 June 1999. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018. Her father, Christopher, the son of a teacher, is a retired salesman for a tyre maker ... Mrs Rhys-Jones, a charity worker and secretary, has her own royal connection. As a young woman she once danced with Prince Philip at a society ball.
  7. ^ "Countess of Wessex's mother dies". BBC. 29 August 2005. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  8. ^ Biography of Paul Bettany Archived 26 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Miller, F. (20 May 2020). "Sophie Wessex family tree: The shock royal in Sophie's bloodline". UK Daily Express. Retrieved 15 August 2024. She is a descendant of King Edward III of England, and also of King Henry IV of England through his son Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.
  10. ^ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage Archived 15 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 107th edition, volume 2, 2003. pages 2720–2731.
  11. ^ "Sophie's Brush With Greatness". Manchester Evening News. 13 August 2007. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2020. The Countess of Wessex will come face to face with her great great great grandfather the Rev John Edward Nassau Molesworth...her ancestor['s][his] son ...solicitor's firm...set up in 1840 by the Reverend's son [solicitor] John Molesworth...
  12. ^ "PR girl turns princess". BBC News. 11 June 1999. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Sun apologises to 'devastated' Sophie Rhys-Jones". The Guardian. 26 May 1999. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  14. ^ a b Furness, Hannah (2 July 2012). "Countess of Wessex: the Royal Family's latest style icon?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  15. ^ Lowrie, Margaret (20 June 1999). "How 'sensible' and 'royal wedding' add up to 'yawn'". CNN. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Colherne Court in 2006 - 21st Century". Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Sophie: Life in the spotlight". BBC News. 2 April 2001. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  18. ^ a b c Hall Meares, Hadley (15 July 2021). "How Prince Edward and Sophie Evolved From P.R. Blunders to Become Key Frontline Royals". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  19. ^ "History – Prince Edward's wedding (pictures, video, facts & news)". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  20. ^ "Prince Edward asks British editors to respect his privacy". UPI. 21 December 1993. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Prince Edward announces his engagement". BBC. 24 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Crown jewels: The fabulous rings which sealed the love of Europe's royal couples". HELLO! magazine. UK. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  23. ^ a b Seward, Ingrid (23 November 2013). "Sophie Wessex: The unsung star of the Royal family". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Edward & Sophie". People. 5 July 1999. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  25. ^ "Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie". BBC News. 19 June 1999. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  26. ^ "The Crown Estate – Property Leases with the Royal Family". Report. National Audit Office (United Kingdom). 2005. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  27. ^ "Royal Residences: Buckingham Palace". royal.uk. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Baby joy for Sophie and Edward". BBC News. 6 May 2003. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  29. ^ "Royal baby born prematurely". BBC News. 8 November 2003. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  30. ^ "Countess gives birth to baby boy". BBC News. 17 December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  31. ^ Scott, Burke; Aimers, John (October 2001). "Wessexs' Tour a Triumph". Canadian Monarchist News (Autumn 2001). Monarchist League of Canada. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  32. ^ Harris, Carolyn (15 February 2012). "Royals of the Caribbean: The 2012 Diamond Jubilee Commonwealth Tours Begin". royalhistorian.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  33. ^ "Earl and Countess of Wessex greeted by overwhelming British patriotism in Gibraltar". hellomagazine.com. 11 June 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  34. ^ a b "Qatar Creating Vision initiative". The Royal Family. 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  35. ^ "Sophie Wessex brings joy to eye patients in India". Hello!. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  36. ^ Shahid, Sharnaz (21 November 2017). "Sophie Wessex shows off her maternal side as she meets locals in Bangladesh". Hello!. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  37. ^ "Lunchtime Concert – The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra". classical-music.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  38. ^ "Countess of Wessex arrives for Sata's funeral". lusakavoice.com. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  39. ^ "Richard III: Leicester Cathedral reburial service for king". BBC. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  40. ^ "Thousands turn out for Liberation Day celebration". BBC News. 9 May 2015. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  41. ^ "Sophie, Countess of Wessex, visits Toronto's Royal Agricultural Winter Fair". ca.hellomagazine.com. 13 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  42. ^ "Sophie Wessex pays emotional visit to 9/11 memorial in New York". ca.hellomagazine.com. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  43. ^ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex visit Canada". royal.uk. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  44. ^ "Trust Vice-Patron to visit Malawi in Commonwealth Week to see the work of the Trust". jubileetribute.org. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  45. ^ "Sophie Wessex makes glamorous appearance at royal birthday gathering". hellomagazine.com. 10 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  46. ^ a b "Edward & Sophie attend Sultan of Brunei's Golden Jubilee celebrations". thecrownchronicles.co.uk. 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  47. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (30 November 2017). "'Making for Change' is a fashion training & manufacturing unit established by the Ministry of Justice and London College of Fashion, @UAL in 2014 at HMP Holloway. It moved to its new home of HMP Downview in summer 2016" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  48. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (30 November 2017). "The Countess met staff and prisoners, including female inmate Trudy, and awarded participants with certificates as part of their training programme. Trudy received her ABC Level 1 Certificate in Fashion and Textiles" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  49. ^ a b "Sophie, Countess of Wessex visits NI charities". ITV. 23 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  50. ^ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex commemorate Sri Lanka's 70th Anniversary of Independence". royal.uk. 7 February 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  51. ^ "Kaljulaid: UK has been Estonia's ally for 100 years". ERR News. 8 October 2018. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  52. ^ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex visit the Baltic States". The Royal Family. 5 October 2018. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  53. ^ "The Countess of Wessex attends the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN". royal.uk. 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  54. ^ "The Countess of Wessex will visit India". royal.co.uk. 23 April 2019. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  55. ^ "The Earl and Countess of Forfar visit Forfar". royal.uk. July 2019. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  56. ^ Sutcliffe, Laura (17 October 2019). "The Countess of Wessex looks like a film star in a pink Emilia Wickstead dress". Hello!. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  57. ^ "Countess of Wessex to promote women's rights during trip to South Sudan". MSN. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  58. ^ a b Sutcliffe, Laura (11 January 2022). "The Countess of Wessex wears a truly sensational dress in Qatar". Hello!. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  59. ^ a b Petit, Stephanie (14 March 2022). "Royal in the States! Sophie, Countess of Wessex Arrives in New York City for 4-Day Visit". People. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  60. ^ Sawer, Patrick (23 April 2022). "Earl and Countess of Wessex met by protests on second leg of Caribbean tour". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  61. ^ Adams, Charley (22 April 2022). "Earl and Countess of Wessex: Prince Edward and Sophie postpone Grenada trip". BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  62. ^ Ward, Victoria (3 October 2022). "Sophie, Countess of Wessex becomes first Royal to visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  63. ^ "The Countess of Wessex visits the Democratic Republic of the Congo". The Royal Family. 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  64. ^ "The Countess of Wessex visits Botswana and Malawi". The Royal Family. 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  65. ^ Perry, Simon (10 March 2023). "Prince Edward and Sophie Step Out in Scotland as the New Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh". People. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  66. ^ Ward, Victoria (23 May 2023). "Duchess of Edinburgh visits Iraq to champion survivors of conflict-related sexual violence". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  67. ^ Russell, Rachel (23 May 2023). "Duchess of Edinburgh becomes first royal to visit Baghdad in Iraq". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  68. ^ "Duchess Sophie visits Ukraine in first trip by British royal since start of war". Reuters. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  69. ^ "Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in tears after meeting sexual violence victims who fled Sudan civil war". Sky News. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  70. ^ "The Wessex Youth Trust". wessexyouthtrust.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  71. ^ "Changes to The Wessex Youth Trust". wessexyouthtrust.org.uk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019.
  72. ^ "Sunderland AFC gets royal recognition". Sunderland Echo. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  73. ^ a b c "Sophie takes first steps towards a royal career". The Telegraph. 19 February 2003. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  74. ^ "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex". meningitisnow.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  75. ^ "We have a Single Aim: A World Without Scarring". scarfree.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  76. ^ "Introducing the RCSLT". rcslt.org. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  77. ^ "Countess is girlguides new president". BBC. 12 June 2003. Archived from the original on 14 June 2003. Retrieved 12 June 2003.
  78. ^ Girlguiding [@Girlguiding] (3 October 2024). "We're proud to announce that HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh is our new patron" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  79. ^ a b "TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex attend DofE Women in Business celebration". The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  80. ^ "President". brainwave.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  81. ^ "Announcements". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2003.
  82. ^ "Our structure and people". autism.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  83. ^ "The Countess of Wessex attends the St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes Awards". royal.gov.uk. 7 September 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  84. ^ "The Countess celebrates 30 years of ChildLine". royal.uk. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  85. ^ "Profile: Earl and Countess of Wessex". BBC. 2 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  86. ^ "Study of 10,000 babies launched". BBC. 27 October 2006. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  87. ^ "Honorary Fellows". rcog.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  88. ^ "The Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise meet England Hockey". The Royal Family. 8 January 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  89. ^ "Countess of Wessex vice patron at Bath and West society". BBC News. 13 June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  90. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (19 March 2018). "The Countess of Wessex as Patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  91. ^ "Countess of Wessex takes 200th Border Union Show role". BBC News. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  92. ^ "The Countess of Wessex Opens New Wool Board Offices". britishwool.org.uk. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  93. ^ "The Countess of Wessex appointed patron of London College of Fashion". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  94. ^ "Loughborough charity announces new Royal Patron". ITV. 23 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  95. ^ "HRH The Countess of Wessex appointed Global Ambassador". intaward.org. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  96. ^ "A Royal Boost for the Ubunye Foundation". ubunyefoundation.co.za. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  97. ^ "HRH The Countess of Wessex announced as Vice-Patron of the Trust". jubileetribute.org. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  98. ^ "The Countess of Wessex will visit India". royal.co.uk. 23 April 2019. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  99. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (10 February 2015). "The Queen and The Countess meet @ERantzen, representing @ISPCCChildline, and @RealRobFahey at TRH birthday reception" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  100. ^ "HRH The Countess of Wessex – Global Ambassador, 100WF's Next Generation initiatives". 100womeninhedgefunds.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  101. ^ "Countess of Wessex completes 450-mile cycling challenge". BBC News. 25 September 2016. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  102. ^ "Sophie, Countess of Wessex, on cycling challenge". BBC. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  103. ^ "LEAF announces Countess of Wessex as new Honorary President". FarmingUK News. 20 October 2016. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  104. ^ "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex announced as Women of the Future's official Ambassador". Women of the Future Programme. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  105. ^ Nash, Emily (7 December 2016). "Sophie Wessex takes to the trading floor for charity: 'That was so easy!'". Hello!. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  106. ^ Barcelona, Ainhoa (9 February 2016). "Sophie Wessex makes emotional visit to children's hospice". Hello!. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  107. ^ "Queen steps down as patron of children's charities". BBC. 20 December 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  108. ^ "Blind veteran from Cumbria meets The Countess of Wessex at military charity's Hampton Court show garden". The Confederation of Service Charities. 4 July 2017. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  109. ^ "Charities and Patronages". royal.uk. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  110. ^ "Countess elected president of agricultural association". middevonadvertiser.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  111. ^ "GOLD MEDALIST CONFIRMED AS GUEST SPEAKER". thebbsa.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  112. ^ "Meet the Team". icemaiden.erhosting.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  113. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (20 January 2018). "'Congratulations Ice Maidens!' – The Countess of Wessex" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  114. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (20 January 2018). "Today it has been announced that The Countess of Wessex will be the Royal Patron of The Nursing Memorial Appeal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  115. ^ "Countess of Wessex takes up top role at Westmorland Agricultural Society". westmorlandshow.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  116. ^ "The Countess of Wessex becomes Royal Patron of Thames Valley Air Ambulance". RoyalCentral.co.uk. 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  117. ^ "Countess of Wessex is New Smithfield President". royalsmithfieldclub.co.uk. 9 February 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  118. ^ Tominey, Camilla (6 March 2019). "Countess of Wessex teams up with Angelina Jolie to end rape and sexual violence in war zones". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  119. ^ "Andrew, Edward and Sophie take new roles at Royal Windsor Horse Show". shropshirestar.com. 25 April 2019. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  120. ^ "HRH The Duke of Edinburgh hands over Patronage of the Chartered Management Institute to HRH The Countess of Wessex". Chartered Management Institute. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  121. ^ Caamano, Andrea (26 April 2020). "The Countess of Wessex secretly volunteering to make food for NHS staff – details". Hello!. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  122. ^ Perry, Simon (18 June 2020). "Why Sophie Wessex Is the Royal Family's Secret Weapon amid Coronavirus". People. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  123. ^ Rice, Francesca (21 September 2020). "The Countess of Wessex looks cool and casual in jeans to litter-pick at the beach with her famil". Good Housekeeping. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  124. ^ "Prince Edward and family spend sunny weekend on beach clean". Tatler. 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  125. ^ Mills, Rhiannon (26 February 2021). "COVID-19: 'Think about other people': Queen speaks out on vaccine hesitancy". Sky News. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  126. ^ "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex becomes Royal Patron". wellbeingofwomen.org.uk. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  127. ^ Wilkins, Bridie (16 September 2021). "Sophie Wessex confesses struggles with memory loss". Hello!. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  128. ^ "Countess of Wessex takes over incredible new role from the Queen's cousin". hellomagazine.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  129. ^ Petit, Stephanie (5 December 2022). "Sophie, Countess of Wessex Appears at Georgetown University to Receive Award from Hillary Clinton". People. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  130. ^ Kelly, Guy (2 August 2018). "Why Meghan should follow Sophie, the Countess of Wessex – the outsider who quietly became the Queen's favourite". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  131. ^ Hinsliff, Gaby; Wazir, Burhan (8 April 2001). "Word by word, Sophie digs herself deeper into trouble". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  132. ^ Hall, Sarah (13 June 1999). "Sophie stresses her differences from Diana". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  133. ^ Summerskill, Ben (19 August 2001). "Edward and Sophie go on royal duties 'strike'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  134. ^ a b "How Sophie, Countess of Wessex moved from being a career PR girl to a devoted Royal stalwart". Tatler. 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  135. ^ a b Murphy, Victoria (5 April 2020). "Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Is the Royal Family's Secret Weapon". Town and Country. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  136. ^ Miller, Frederika (20 May 2020). "Sophie Wessex nickname: How dedicated royal earned this surprising nickname". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  137. ^ "Can Sophie Wessex reignite the royal flame?". Radio NZ. 19 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  138. ^ Vanderhoof, Erin. "Countess Sophie's Trip to the Pub Suggests She'll Be Staying in the Spotlight". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  139. ^ McBride, Caitline (26 January 2020). "Sophie of Wessex: who is Queen Elizabeth's 'favourite' royal filling Harry and Meghan's shoes?". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  140. ^ Farquharson, Georgia (15 August 2020). "Sophie Countess of Wessex went from a scandalous past to being a 'royal key worker' – but how could she help Meghan?". GoodtoKnow. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  141. ^ a b "As Sophie, Countess of Wessex turns 53, look back at her most stylish looks". The Telegraph. 20 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  142. ^ "About Jane Taylor". janetaylorlondon.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  143. ^ "Royal Style for Real Girls: Tips from Kate Middleton's Hat Maker Jane Taylor". marieclaire.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  144. ^ a b "Sophie, Countess of Wessex's most stylish moments". Hello!. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  145. ^ Clinton, Leah Melby (20 October 2015). "Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Talks About the Real Fashion Pressures of Being a Royal". Glamour. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  146. ^ Jessen, Monique (6 November 2015). "Why Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Skips the Stylist: 'She Does It All Herself'". People. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  147. ^ Ward, Victoria (18 October 2015). "Sophie, Countess of Wessex tells how she 'caved into fashion'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  148. ^ Hill, Erin (19 February 2018). "Kate Middleton Steps Out in Black-and-White for Fashion Event Amid BAFTA Dress Code Backlash". People. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  149. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sun apologises in royal picture row". BBC. 26 May 1999. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  150. ^ a b c d e f "Sun says 'sorry, Sophie'". BBC. 27 May 1999. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  151. ^ a b c d "Sun apologises to 'devastated' Sophie Rhys-Jones". The Guardian. 26 May 1999. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  152. ^ Eden, Richard (16 September 2012). "Duchess of Cambridge receives support from Countess of Wessex in topless pictures row". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  153. ^ a b "Tabloid rapped over topless Sophie photo". BBC. 2 June 1999. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  154. ^ "Noble sorry for Sophie snap". BBC. 19 March 2000. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  155. ^ Davies, Nick (8 June 2011). "Phone-hacking scandal widens to include Kate Middleton and Tony Blair". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  156. ^ a b c d e f g "Palace denies reports of Sophie insults". BBC. 2 April 2001. Archived from the original on 15 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  157. ^ a b "The fake sheikh and his greatest hits". The Independent. London. 6 September 2005. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  158. ^ "Tulisa Contostavlos drugs trial collapses". BBC. 21 July 2014. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  159. ^ a b "Word by word, Sophie digs herself deeper into trouble". The Guardian. 8 April 2001. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  160. ^ a b c Millar, Frank (9 April 2001). "Sophie quits PR firm amid new tape revelations". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  161. ^ "Explosive headlines for Sophie". BBC News. 8 April 2001. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  162. ^ "Sophie scandal continues". BBC. 8 April 2001. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  163. ^ "Sophie and Edward quit business roles". BBC News. 2 March 2002. Archived from the original on 23 December 2002. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  164. ^ a b Staff writer (7 January 2012). "Countess of Wessex's Bahrain jewel gift criticised". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  165. ^ a b Bloxham, Andy (6 January 2012). "Countess of Wessex criticised for accepting jewels from Bahrain". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  166. ^ Sawer, Patrick (8 January 2012). "How a routine royal visit spelt trouble for the Countess of Wessex". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  167. ^ "Title for the Earl of Wessex". Royal.uk. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  168. ^ "The Funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh". royal.uk. 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  169. ^ "Order of Service for The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II" (PDF). The Royal Family. 19 September 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  170. ^ "The King confers The Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward". The Royal Family. 10 March 2023. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  171. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Honours and appointments: The Countess of Wessex". Royal Household. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  172. ^ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex Receive Centennial Medal" (Press release). Government of Saskatchewan. 7 June 2005. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  173. ^ "The Countess of Wessex appointed to the Royal Victorian Order" (Press release). Queen's Printer. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  174. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (21 March 2017). "The Countess of Wessex, as Grand President of @stjohnambulance has been awarded a Long Service Medal at the National Presidents' Conference" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  175. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (16 September 2021). "Yesterday The Countess of Wessex, Grand President of @StJohnAmbulance, was presented with the First Bar to the Service Medal, marking HRH's 15 years of service to the Order" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  176. ^ Longstaff, Emma (27 April 2023). "What medals are the royal family wearing?". Homes & Antiques. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  177. ^ "No. 63692". The London Gazette. 9 May 2022. p. 8838.
  178. ^ "No. 57625". The London Gazette. 27 April 2005. p. 5488.
  179. ^ "Honours, Decorations and Medals". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  180. ^ "TRH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL AWARDED WITH THE MEXICAN ORDER OF THE AZTEC EAGLE". Official website of the Mexican Embassy in the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  181. ^ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (5 October 2017). "The Earl and Countess of Wessex are in Brunei to attend The Sultan of Brunei's Golden Jubilee celebrations" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  182. ^ "'The Crown Princess and Mr. Daniel Westling's wedding commemorative medal'".
  183. ^ "Garrison Community Council – Upcoming Events". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  184. ^ "No. 57032". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 August 2003. p. 10318.
  185. ^ "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex becomes Colonel-in-Chief of the REME". The British Army. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  186. ^ a b "Further Military Appointments for Members of the Royal Family". The Royal Family. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  187. ^ "The Countess of Wessex Cup at the St John Moore Barracks". The Royal Family. 22 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  188. ^ "RAF Wittering personnel compete in The Duchess of Edinburgh Cup". Royal Air Force. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  189. ^ "'Countess of Wessex' rose Description". Help Me Find. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  190. ^ "The Countess of Wessex (Shrub Rose)". Peter Beales. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020. We were delighted to have named this rose at the suggestion of Bishop Peter Nott, formally of Norwich, who had the honour of officiating at the wedding of The Earl and Countess of Wessex, at St. George's Chapel, Windsor in 1999.
  191. ^ a b Sophie's new coat Archived 31 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. BBC News. 19 May 1999. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  192. ^ "Royal Insights: October 2005: Mailbox". The Royal Household. Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
Listen to this article (15 minutes)
Spoken Wikipedia icon
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 12 July 2014 (2014-07-12), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
(Audio help · More spoken articles)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Ladies
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sophie,_Duchess_of_Edinburgh&oldid=1251637725"